The Southern University System, November 1, 2013, welcomed New Orleans native and Southern University alumnus Alfred E. "Al" Harrell III as director of development and executive director of the SU System Foundation.

Harrell began his career in non-profit administration in 1993 while a student at Southern. He was selected by the Boy Scouts of America to participate in their National Intern Fellowship Program. His 20-year career with Boy Scouts of America evolved from the intern/fellow position to chief operating officer, serving in four corporate offices including Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Richmond, Virginia, and Tampa, Florida.

"Al is a very accomplished and skilled development professional, and we are excited to have him join the Southern University team," said SU System President Ronald Mason Jr.

Harrell, who received his bachelor's degree from Southern University Baton Rouge in 1995, was previously executive director for institutional advancement at his high school alma mater, St. Augustine High School, where their team of advancement staff and volunteers worked together to increase unrestricted and restricted cash revenue by 153 percent over a nine-month period.

"As a Southern graduate, he is extremely passionate about the institution, and he is looking forward to building the relationships that are critical for the advancement of the University. I have every confidence that he will do an outstanding job with taking the System's fundraising efforts to the next level." Mason added.

The SU System director of development will design and implement comprehensive fund development plans to generate support for University-wide priorities as well as assist the fundraising efforts.

In addition to his executive level experience, Harrell has a master's of divinity from Virginia Union University, and is a U.S. Marine, serving from 1991-1997. He is a board member of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, and the Richmond Virginia Scholarship Endowment Fund; a Judge Revius Ortique Leadership Institute fellow; and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

"My wife (Anita Anderson-Harrell '97) and I are really excited about the opportunity to come back home and reunite with our friends and family at Southern," said Harrell. "I'm profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve my alma mater and look forward to being a part of the team that will greatly advance our fundraising efforts, impacting generations of future Southernites-- Go Jags."